Football | 10/1/2015 9:00:00 AM

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University football program (2-2, 1-2 GLIAC) will travel to Tiffin (3-1, 3-1 GLIAC) on Saturday for a 3 PM clash with the Dragons who are currently in second place in the South Division. Wayne State will travel to Tiffin for the fourth time in program history on Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 3 PM. The Warriors will try to notch their first road victory of the season and improve their league record to the .500 mark. The matchup features two top-five defenses according to yards allowed per game. The game's deciding factor will be whether the WSU defense will be able to slow down TU's dual-threat quarterback Antonio Pipkin, who leads the nation in total offense at 466.8 yards per game.

SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
Tiffin improved its record to 3-1 (both overall and in the GLIAC) with a 27-24 overtime victory at Malone. The two other wins were over Walsh (34-13) and Saginaw Valley State (40-0) with the loss coming at Findlay (44-48). Head coach Gary Goff is in his fifth season and led the Dragons to a 5-6 record in 2014. The five wins were the most since 2007 and the most GLIAC wins in program history. The aforementioned Pipkin has thrown for 1,384 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions along with a 172.1 efficiency rating. He has completed just over 65 percent of his passes. Pipkin is also the team's leading rusher at 483 yards and five TDs. Pedro Correa has caught 25 passes for 416 yards and three scores, while Charles Holland has hauled in 23 balls for 380 yards and four touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, Johnny Joseph leads the group with 25 tackles, while Morgan Loyd has tallied 5.5 tackles for loss. Stefan Willis has two of the team's three interceptions.

ALL-TIME SERIES
WSU leads the all-time series with TU 6-1 with the Dragons first-ever win over Wayne State coming last season (26-23) in Detroit. Coach Winters is  4-1 in his time at WSU. The series began with two non-GLIAC meetings in 1986 and 1987. The Warriors have never lost at Tiffin in three contests.

LAST TIME OUT
After the Warriors drove 49 yards on the first drive of the game, Majd Khytaz first collegiate field goal attempt (from 43 yards) was just short. The Timberwolves went 74 yards in seven plays aided by two offsides penalties on WSU to take a 7-0 lead on a 10-yard run by Andre Carter. A three-and-out by WSU preceded an 82-yard drive in 12 plays (6:40).  The Warriors forced an incompletion on fourth-and-20 but a flag was thrown for pass interference giving Northwood a first-and-10 at the WSU 12.  Four plays later Luke Shaffer scored on a two-yard run. Wayne State responded with an 11-play, 78-yard drive in 6:05 with Jamel Hicks hauling in a 13-yard scoring toss from D.J. Zezula on a third-and-11. The final three drives of the first half ended in punts. Northwood drove 88 yards in nine plays to start the second half.  NU scored on a 43-yard pass from Mark Morris to Devonta Elzy. WSU put together a 16-play drive covering 74 yards but was stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the NU one yard line. The Timberwolves went 80 yards on the ensuing possession with David Knudsen converting a 37-yard field goal attempt giving the hosts a 24-6 advantage. On Wayne State's first play following the kickoff, Zezula found a streaking Manny Mendoza for a 78-yard touchdown. Northwood answered with an 82-yard touchdown pass to Theron Wilson on a third-and-17. The Warriors garnered three first downs on the following drive but a first down pass from the NU 15 was intercepted and Northwood ran out the clock.

QUICK STARTS
Over the last seven plus years (2008-15), WSU is 25-9 in August and September while never posting losing month during that stretch. WSU is 2-0 in August (wins in 2008 and 2009) and 23-9 in September (4-0 in 2011, 3-1 on five occasions, and 2-2 in 2013 and 2015). WSU is 16-15 in October (4-1 in 2010, 3-1 in 2008, 3-2 in 2011, 2-2 in 2012, 2-3 in 2009, and 1-3 in both 2013 and 2014) and 9-8 in November (3-0 in 2014, 2-0 in 2010, 3-1 in 2011, 1-1 in 2008, 0-1 in 2009, 0-2 in 2012, and 0-3 in 2013). Additionally, the Warriors are 2-1 in December (all in 2011).

100 GLIAC WINS
Wayne State earned its 100th GLIAC with a victory against Malone on Sept. 19. WSU was a part of the GLIAC from 1975 until 1989, and currently since 1999.

WINNING WHEN EXECUTING
WSU has won its last seven games including Sept. 19 vs. Malone when rushing for over 200 yards. During the past four seasons, the Warriors are 17-4 when accomplishing the feat including an 8-1 mark on the road. The only loss in that span came at Michigan Tech in 2013 (28-21). Under Coach Winters, the Green & Gold are 36-13 under those parameters including a 21-6 mark at home.

HOT STREAK FOR HICKS
Junior wide receiver Jamel Hicks had a team-high five receptions at Northwood, including his third touchdown reception of the season.  It was his fourth TD catch in the last six contests dating back to last season.  He leads WSU with 21 receptions for 242 yards and is tied for the team lead with three touchdown catches.

QUITE A DEBUT
Redshirt freshman Jordan Billingslea went 49 yards on his first collegiate kickoff return last Saturday at Northwood.  It was the longest kickoff return by a Warrior since Val Showers had a 58-yard kickoff return last year (10/11/14) at Grand Valley State.

MANNY BEING MANNY
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Manny Mendoza had a touchdown reception for the third consecutive game and notched his first 100-yard receiving effort at Northwood.  Mendoza finished with two receptions for a team-best 102 yards, including a 78-yard TD catch.  After grabbing one pass last year, he is the team leader in yards per catch at 21.6 (8 for 173 yards).

CAREER DAY FOR 'MELLO
Redshirt sophomore running back Romello Brown rushed for a game-high 119 yards on 15 carries at Northwood.  It was his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game.  Brown has three of WSU's six rushing touchdowns on the season.

FRESHMAN RECORD SET ON SATURDAY
Freshman quarterback D.J. Zezula has equaled the WSU record for touchdown passes by a true freshman with nine (Kevin Smith had nine in 2008).  Zezula did not throw an interception until his 79th attempt.  He has thrown at least two touchdown passes in every game this season and his 168.55 passer rating.

NEED TO REGROUP
The 31 points allowed by the Warriors were the most since a 33-30 setback at Northern Michigan on Oct. 18, 2014, while the 442 yards allowed were the highest total since Carson-Newman garnered 468 yards of total offense in a 41-31 Warrior victory in Detroit on Sept. 13, 2014. 

GO-TO TIGHT END
Junior tight end Trent Brodbeck extended his reception streak to 10 games with one catch for 27 yards at Northwood.  He is third on the team in receiving yards (172) and touchdowns (2), while ranking second in yards per catch (21.5).

FINISHING STRONG
In the four final quarters this season, D.J. Zezula is:
- 13-22 passing for 266 yards and four TD in 29:00 (team has scored six TD's with him at the helm; other two were rushing).
- He has rushed five times for 33 yards and accounted for 299 yards of total offense.
- WSU has ran 64 plays for 436 yards and collected 21 first downs (10 rush, 10 pass, 1 penalty) and Zezula has accounted for 11 of those first downs (10 pass, 1 rush).

TRUE FRESHMAN SIGNAL CALLER
There have been 10 previous true freshman to see significant playing time at quarterback prior to D.J. Zezula.
1951 - Richard Lisabeth, 15-34, 370 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT, 112.0
1980 - Greg Goldstein, 31-85, 402 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 79.3
1986 - Mike Grennier, 18-52, 246 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT, 65.3
1992 - Anthony Frederick, 10-17, 73 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 83.1
2001 - Randy Hutchison, 30-62, 362 yards, 4 TD, 6 INT, 99.4
2003 - Chad Blair, 18-34, 167 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 98.0
2004 - Nolan Martin, 68-177, 747 yards, 1 TD, 6 INT, 69.0
2006 - Zack George, 18-34, 320 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 141.7
2006 - Trent Pohl, 93-184, 1233 yards, 8 TD, 8 INT, 112.5
2008 - Kevin Smith, 74-159, 805 yards, 9 TD, 6 INT, 100.2
2015 - D.J. Zezula, 48-79, 684 yards, 9 TD, 1 INT, 168.55

- Zezula is tied for the third-most passing TDs by a true freshman QB with nine (Kevin Smith - 9).
- He already has the fourth-most passing yards with 684 (Trent Pohl - 1233, Kevin Smith - 805, Nolan Martin - 747).
- He owns the highest passing efficiency rating at 168.6 (2nd - Zack George - 141.7, 3rd - Trent Pohl - 112.5, 4th - Richard Lisabeth - 112.0).

WINTERS ON WEDNESDAYS
The weekly Winters on Wednesday's radio show is in its fourth season with head coach Paul Winters joining host Rod Beard and co-host Nicole Stoll. The Winters on Wednesday's radio show airs every Wednesday from 7-8 PM on 1400 AM / 92.7 FM and is simulcast on WDTKAM.com.  A new feature this year is that the broadcast will occur live at Tony V's Tavern in downtown Detroit. Fans are encouraged to attend and participate in the exciting event leading up to each game this season.

JUCO CAPTAINS
The last three Junior College players to be a captain at WSU prior to Ashawn Butler this season were Daunte Akra in 2010 after playing two years at Grand Rapids CC, Andrew Bates in 2008 after also playing two seasons at GRCC and Craig Duppong in 2003 after playing two years at Joliet JC.

TEAM CAPTAINS
Prior to a scrimmage on August 22, head coach Paul Winters selected his captains for the 2015 season. The 2015 WSU captains are senior quarterback Carl Roscoe, senior safety Zak Bielecki, senior tight end Ethan Walsh and senior defensive end Ashawn Butler. All four are first-year captains. Prior to the announcement of the 2015 captains, nine previous WSU captains spoke about their time in Detroit:  Leit Jones (1967-69), Tom Sheppard (1967-70), Enrico Odorico (1961-63), Ed Skowneski (1972-75), Tom Hurley (1972-75), Dale Dwojakowski (1989-92), Grant Fodor (2003-06), Leo Wells (2002-05), Frank Lietke (2004-07) and Steve Lee (1988-91).

2015 SIGNING CLASS
The 30 NLI signees for 2015 marks the second largest class in Paul Winters 12 years at WSU.  The only larger signing class was in 2012 (31).

CONSISTENT LEADER
Paul Winters became the second-longest tenured football coach in program history this fall with 12 seasons.  He was tied with the founder of WSU athletics David Holmes at 11 seasons (1918-28).  Hall of Fame coach Joseph Gembis holds the WSU record with 14 seasons (1932-45).

STAFF CONTINUITY
The football coaching staff entered the 2015 season with several names that have been with the program for a number of years. Along with Winters entering his 12th season, defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Scott Kazmierski is in his 12th season with the Green & Gold. Linebackers coach Keith McKenzie is in his eighth season, offensive line coach Scott Wooster is in his seventh season, defensive coordinator and secondary coach Brad Wilson is in his fourth season and quarterbacks coach Jeff Reardon is in his third season with the Warriors. E.J. Henderson returns to the program after serving three years previously (2004-06).

MODEL OF SUCCESS
Wayne State has compiled at least a .500 season in six of the last seven years (2008-14) combining for a 50-31 mark in that span.  Prior to Coach Winters arrival in 2004, the Tartars/Warriors had 10 consecutive losing seasons on the field and only one winning season on the field in 19 years.

WARRIORS ON TV
All four of Wayne State's remaining home games will be broadcast on Comcast Xfinity Channel 900.  The broadcast team of Joe Abramson, Rod Beard and Kevin Brechmacher will have the call from Tom Adams Field.  Every contest will be shown live plus each game will also be available On-Demand.

WDTK AND WARRIOR ALL-ACCESS
All Wayne State football games can be heard on WDTK Radio (1400 AM/92.7 FM).  Fans can listen to the games online at wdtkam.com or watch the home games via Warrior All-Access for a $5.95 per game fee.  Sean Baligian and former WSU running back Josh Renel will call the action from the broadcast booth. Former Warrior Ryan Oshnock will serve as the color analyst for three contests.